248 POACHERS 



some weeks previously. On meeting the man again 

 on the following day, he asked him how, with his 

 small croft, he had so many potatoes for sale. The 

 crofter replied with a canny ' Toot, toot I see here !' 

 and he showed my friend a cheque for over £2,0, 

 which was got for grouse, and not for potatoes / These 

 and such-like are, in many places, the means which the 

 wretched crofter is forced to adopt to pay his rent, and 

 it goes on without let or hindrance. 



Every description of poaching invention is brought 

 to bear against the unfortunate grouse, though I am 

 pleased to be able to record the fact that the tactics of 

 some of my watchers have many a time been success- 

 ful in bringing the ruthless perpetrators of such unfair 

 deeds to justice, and made them pay dearly for their 

 night's work. The smallest mark or sign of netting, 

 snaring, pinioning, trapping, holing, drugging, etc., is 

 easily detected. Near large towns pheasants are easily 

 drugged, and I have also heard of some means which 

 poachers make use of in order to stupefy the birds 

 with some kind of vaporous preparation. Such work 

 should, however, be surely found out and prevented, 

 despite the fact of its being so silent and easily carried 

 on, whether the ni^ht be dark or clear. 



Poachers' nets are of various kinds. What are called 

 'line-nets' are at times five hundred yards in length. 

 Then there is the ' drag-net,' which is used principally 

 between the 6th and 10th of August — 2. small, light 

 net, which is pulled over the dog when set. These 

 poachers' dogs are collies, and their noses are as true 

 as those of any other breed, and when the}^ have been 

 broken off hares they are invaluable to poachers, 

 whether for day or night work. The drag-net is very 



